Battery Module Venting Layout to Isolate Thermal Runaway
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Solution Overview
Problem
Cylindrical battery cells in lithium batteries are prone to thermal runaway, which can lead to safety accidents as gas and ejections from one cell can affect neighboring cells through shared pressure relief cavities, posing potential hazards.
Innovation Solution
A battery module design with individual pressure relief cavities and exhaust ports for each cell, separated by longitudinal beams, allowing gases to be discharged through dedicated channels, preventing spread of thermal runaway to adjacent cells.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If multiple battery cells share a same pressure relief cavity, then the device complexity is reduced, but thermal runaway can spread to other battery cells causing safety hazards
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the pressure relief cavity into multiple independent compartments, with each battery cell having its own dedicated pressure relief cavity. This segmentation prevents thermal runaway from spreading between cells while maintaining manageable structural complexity through modular design
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the pressure relief function from a shared common cavity and assigns it to individual cell-level cavities. Each battery cell is equipped with its own explosion-proof valve and pressure relief cavity, isolating the harmful effects of thermal runaway to the specific cell level
2Productivity
If battery cells are arranged in an array in the same sealed cavity, then the productivity is improved, but thermal runaway in one cell can affect other cells leading to safety accidents
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the sealed cavity into multiple accommodating areas using partition walls, with each area housing battery cells that have independent pressure relief cavities. This allows efficient array arrangement while preventing thermal runaway propagation between cell groups
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces partition walls as intermediary structures between groups of battery cells. These partitions act as barriers that prevent the spread of thermal runaway while allowing the overall battery module to maintain a compact, efficient layout
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enhances safety by isolating thermal runaway effects, reducing the risk of accidents and improving overall safety performance of the battery module.
Implementation Method 1
the tray is spaced from the bottom surface of the case to define a pressure relief cavity, and the through hole and the exhaust ports are respectively communicated with the pressure relief cavity
Implementation Method 2
when thermal runaway occurs in a certain battery cell, an explosion-proof valve of the battery cell is opened, and gas and ejections generated inside the battery cell are discharged
Data Source
AI summary
The present application provides a battery module and an electric vehicle. The battery module includes a case, a longitudinal beam, and a tray. The case is provided with at least one exhaust port. The longitudinal beam is disposed in the case and is abutted against a bottom surface of the case to partition accommodating areas in the case on both sides of the longitudinal beam along a width direction. The tray is disposed in one of the accommodating areas and is configured to install a battery cell. A through hole opposite to an end of the battery cell is defined on the tray, the tray is spaced from the bottom surface of the case to define a pressure relief cavity, the through hole and the exhaust port are respectively communicated with the pressure relief cavity.